1. Writing and Critical Thinking Exercise
Manifest Destiny
History Through Art

2. Objectives Analyze a famous painting by American artist John Gast
“American Progress” (1873)
Study the upcoming painting carefully and see what clues the artist gives regarding America’s Westward expansion
Answer the questions in your study guide

3. What was “Manifest Destiny”?
Expansion to the Pacific
Seen as obvious and inevitable
Not necessarily a religious idea
Spread of democracy and European-American lifestyle
Exterminate/convert Native Americans
Tame the Western landscape

5. What do you think the woman in the picture represents?
What is she doing?

6. Look familiar?

7. 2. What are these people doing, and why do you think they are in the picture?

8. What does this part of the picture show?
What is its significance?

9. Who else is being forced Westward?
What is happening here?

10. 5. Why do you think the bear was included in this part of the picture?

12. 6. Can you tell what is going on in this part of the picture?

13. 7. Why do you think the artist painted this picture
7. Why do you think the artist painted this picture? What is the larger message he was trying to convey about “Manifest Destiny”?

14. Characteristics of the Term (At least 5)
Definition
Characteristics of the Term (At least 5)
Manifest Destiny
Examples
Squatters:
Oregon:
California:
Treaty of Ft. Laramie:
Utah:
Non-Examples: (5 Characteristics that are the opposite of the term)

15. The Readings on the topic
Version I John L. O’ Sullivan 1839
list points of interest on the left of Venn Diagram
Read Version II John L. O’ Sullivan from the Democratic Review where the term Manifest Destiny is coined. List points of interest on the right diagram.
Comparison items go in the middle.
Are there common threads? Is the document more specific? Why? Dates are key!